Farmers’ Market in Franklin ready to reopen for second season
Published 9:36 am Saturday, May 15, 2010
FRANKLIN—Salad greens, radishes and potted herbs are just some of what Kathy Brown plans to offer when the Farmers’ Market in Franklin reopens Saturday, May 15, for a second season.
Although Brown, who is also the market manager, doesn’t expect more than a few vendors for the 8 a.m. opener, 28 were signed up during the initial year of the downtown Main Street market set up next to Franklin Depot/Visitor Center.
“I’ve already been signing up new vendors, including an alpaca farm that plans to bring a couple animals for show-and-tell and sell wool made from alpaca,” said Brown, owner of Cedar Brook Farm on Camp Parkway in Courtland.
The farmers’ market will be open 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It’s among the few in Virginia that offers merchandise more than one day a week, Brown said.
“Our farmers wanted it to be that way,” she said. “Some of our vendors have a loyal following.”
Early in the season, vendors may sell wholesale produce. That is until local produce is available.
Saturday is the busiest day for the market.
“A lot of our vendors are backyard farmers, who work during the week, and Saturday is when they come,” Brown said. “And our customers, a lot work during the week and can only come on Saturdays.”
“Last year on a good Saturday during June, July and August, we had as many as 10 vendors, and during the week, five or six,” she continued.
The farmers’ market runs through February. The cost to set up for the season is $50; for one month, $20; and one day, $5.
Although the market closes at 1 p.m., that doesn’t mean vendors need to pack up, Brown said.
“If they have late business or think people will come later, they can stay,” she said.
For information, call 562-6900.